Friday, December 20, 2013

With the sun setting on 2013, it’s only natural to take some
time to reflect on all the great things that happened at UNC Charlotte this
year. However, with enrollment currently
at more than 26,500 students – and continually growing – and approximately
another 4,000 faculty and staff members, there’s no way we could adequately
reference every story. So, with that in
mind, here is a snapshot of just a few things we’re proud of that made up 2013
at UNC Charlotte.

Were you ready for some football? 2013 was a milestone year in that
intercollegiate football on UNC Charlotte’s campus officially kicked off, and
what an exciting season we had. Things
got off to a thrilling start with the highly anticipated first game, which
couldn’t have been scripted any better with linebacker Mark Hogan returning an
interception 32 yards for a touchdown on only the second play from
scrimmage. That play set the tone for
what continued to be an exhilarating season and provided the first of many
highlight plays that are sure to come for Charlotte 49er football. The Niners wrapped up their inaugural season
with a 5-6 record.

A major step forward was taken this year in opening the
doors of the campus to the greater Charlotte community. Federal, state and local government
officials, along with business and community leaders and the public took part
in breaking ground on the LYNX Blue Line extension which will link UNC
Charlotte’s main campus with UNC Charlotte Center City as well as businesses,
organizations and cultural groups in the heart of Uptown. The 9.3 mile extension will serve as a
proverbial gateway to the University granting the Charlotte community access to
a myriad of fun and engaging activities on campus – including Division I
athletics, top-notch performing arts and a host of academic engagements. Operational service is expected to begin in
2017.

Academically, one of the biggest stories was the
collaboration between the William States Lee College of Engineering, Belk
College of Business and the College of Arts and Architecture for the 2013
Department of Energy Solar Decathlon.
UNC Charlotte was one of 20 academic teams from around the world chosen to participate in the competition which challenged
teams to design, build and operate solar-powered houses that are
cost-effective, energy-efficient and visually attractive. Our team developed UrbanEden, a net-zero
energy powered home designed with a strong connection between indoor and
outdoor living areas. Our team garnered two
awards during the Decathlon, third place in the juried Engineering Contest and
the People’s Choice Award – the public’s vote for its favorite house.

Those are just a few of the wonderful things transpiring at
North Carolina’s urban research university.
As we put to bed yet another calendar, we are already looking forward to
the many things in store for 2014. New
students, novel research, stronger community bonds, all efforts we foster to
underscore the commitment to remain integral to the economic, social and
cultural fabric of the Charlotte region.

So from UNC Charlotte, happy holidays and we’ll see you next
year!

# # #

Jared Moon is communications coordinator in the Office of Public Relations.

Monday, December 16, 2013

There’s something about graduations
that makes, even those of us who aren’t graduating, feel a sense of delight and
excitement. So this past Saturday, when UNC Charlotte proudly conferred the
degrees of nearly 3400 graduates it was a time of celebration. At this 66th
commencement, held in UNC Charlotte’s Halton Arena, more
than 1,900 of students received their Bachelor's while the other 1,000
graduates received advanced degrees, including 70 doctorates.

It was a special celebration for the
University, as this year’s graduates are part of a growing contingency of
students who have experienced the University at its peak in growth and change.
Speaking to the crowd, Chancellor Phillip Dubois noted that in the last 4-6
years, not only has the student body grown to more than 26,000, the University
has greatly expanded its academic programs - offering a number of new doctoral
degrees – and continued improving the look and feel of the campus. With the
University completing more than a billion dollar’s worth of construction during
their time here, these graduates saw the construction of the Center City
Building and new residence halls on main campus. And of course, there was the inauguration
of football, which proved to be an exciting milestone not only for students but
for many across the Charlotte community.

One
of the things that makes UNC Charlotte so special is its students. Deeply rooted in its
tradition, is the ability to serve those who come from many different walks of
life but share the commonality of wanting to achieve academic success. Witnessing
the winter commencement and many of the recent milestones, there is no doubt
that Saturday was a proud day for those graduates. I’m sure that as each of
them looks back, they are able to reflect not only on the University’s growth
during their time here, but their own growth as
individuals. Hopefully, they found their experience to be valuable and are
leaving university life feeling very proud to say “I am a 49er” as they go out
into the world and Stake their Claim.

So, in the spirit of being a 49er, we celebrate and applaud
our graduates. As they mark the conclusion of an academic and
personal milestone, we wish them much success. No matter what path they choose,
an advanced academic program, the workforce or just starting the rest of their
lives, we know that their futures are grounded in the 49er spirit of
determination and perseverance. Cheers to the season and cheers to UNC
Charlotte’s graduates.

# # #

Latricia Boone is communications director for the Colleges of Education and Health & Human Services.

I was driving in to work at the University’s commencement ceremony
Saturday afternoon and, frankly, I had an attitude problem. The day was dark
and cold and the rain was coming in torrents the closer I got to campus.
Traffic was snarled half a mile from the front entrance, so by the time I
slipped in the back way, I had to park far from the Barnhart Student Activities
Center and walk a couple hundred yards in the downpour. And for what? All I was
required to do was sit and watch, and attend to any reporters that might show
up from the media (none did; Winter commencement isn’t a big story for them).

But then something happened; I got inside the arena,
surrounded by more than 3,400 graduating 49ers, thousands of their family and
friends, and hundreds of participating faculty and staff. Even before the
students and professors filed in in their robes, the arena was humming with
anticipation from the guests; staffers were striding around and talking on
walkie-talkies, taking care of business. Photos were sliding across the Jumbotron.
Finally the student orchestra filled the air with the processional and the show
was on.

I was smiling.

I’ve worked these gigs many times during the last eight years
and try as I might to approach it as ho-hum business as usual, commencement
always makes me happy and proud; proud of the graduates who have completed
their hard slog to a degree, proud of the long-suffering family members, proud
of the stalwart faculty, proud even of my colleagues who help keep the
University operating day to day.

By the time I left the arena, I was beaming and refreshed.
Thanks, Class of 2013!

Thursday, November 21, 2013

This week,
UNC Charlotte hosted its first-ever full-day conference focused on increasing
cultural sensitivity as it relates to student veterans and how best to
support their success as they assimilate into the college environment. The conference,
Boots to Books: Understanding Military
Culture and Supporting a Successful Transition, drew more than 200
individuals from the campus and greater Charlotte community.

College of Health & Human Services Dean

Nancy Fey-Yensan welcomed attendees

At the heart
of UNC Charlotte’s founding, supporting student veterans has long been part of
the University culture and its commitment as a military friendly institution.
Over the years, the University has underscored this commitment by investing in the necessary resources to better serve the needs of student
veterans and their families.

This week’s event was another
opportunity to engage the larger community and share information and resources as
well as hear from student veterans on what their experience has been and how
they would like to be supported. Currently, about 800 UNC Charlotte students
are using some form of military benefits to pay for their education. The conference brought national and
local speakers and included a panel discussion with current students who are
veterans.

As part of the
panel discussion, the students’ shared their unique perspectives and talked
about the successes and challenges they’ve faced transitioning from military
culture to college life. Hearing from the students, it became clear that not
only is the University playing an integral role in their success but these
students, who bring very unique experiences and skill sets, play an integral role
in the University -- from student life to academic endeavors to their
intellectual contribution both in and out of the classroom.

While each
panelist came from different walks of life and brought different perspectives,
they all emphasized how the University’s support has helped to ease their
transition. The University’s Office of Student Veterans Services (VSSO) has
played an important role in those efforts. The VSSO provides one-on-one
consultations for student veterans and collaborates with community
organizations to better serve and bring awareness of veteran challenges, both
on campus and in the larger community.

Student-veterans discussed transitions from military to campus

Allison Jenner, assistant director for Veteran Student Services, gave an informative
presentation on the role of the VSSO and how the office not only supports students, but also
faculty, in terms of their knowledge and understanding of how to best
communicate and engage with their veteran students. Jenner’s presentation also
discussed strategies for success across the University and touched on common misconceptions,
such as what it means to have post traumatic distress order (PSTD) and how to
best communicate with those who do. The student panelists and speakers emphasized
the fact that not all student veterans suffer from PSTD but even those who do
can acclimate successfully with the right support systems in place.

In addition
to speakers and the panel, attendees took part in a “support services” vendor
fair and an art exhibit highlighting the work of Robert Bates, a veteran and
student at the University.

Funded by a grant from the UNC Charlotte
Chancellor’s Diversity Challenge Fund, Boots to Books was sponsored by the College of
Health and Human Services’ Department of Social Work in partnership with the
UNC Charlotte Office of Veterans Student Services, Mecklenburg County Community
Support Services, and Charlotte Bridge Home.

# # #

Latricia Bone is the communications director for the Colleges of Education and Health & Human Services

Monday, November 18, 2013

Clean, green, affordable and reliable - former New Jersey Governor and EPA administrator and current co-chair of the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition (CASEnergy) Christine Todd Whitman espoused the benefits of nuclear power in a talk to more than 200 students, faculty, staff and industry leaders on Nov. 14, in the Siemens Energy Lecture Hall at UNC Charlotte’s Energy Production and Infrastructure Center (EPIC). Alumnus and North Carolina Representative Mike Hager, who serves on several legislative environmental and energy committees, also attended the forum.

Whitman endorsed an “all of the above” approach to energy, a broad portfolio that includes nuclear power in order to remain flexible and meet future energy demand. She applauded North Carolina as a leader, ranking fifth in the United States for net electricity generated from nuclear power, with 32 percent of its portfolio being nuclear.

Despite North Carolina’s energy mix including nuclear power, Whitman cited multiple challenges in further public and political acceptance, chief among them the decades-long “hangover” from disasters such as Three Mile Island and Chernobyl, as well as the Fukushima Daiichi disaster in 2011; she said the vulnerability of the reactors at Fukushima Daiichi have been addressed for the design of new reactors. She noted that people also often confuse nuclear arms with nuclear power, and that education is the key to dispelling misconceptions and increasing its adoption. Whitman also holds public officials responsible and advocates for a national nuclear energy policy. She acknowledged that the current low cost of natural gas is also “undercutting the appetite for nuclear power.”

Whitman, who toured EPIC before her presentation, spoke with students about their senior design projects while making stops at the High Bay Lab, AREVA Power Systems Teaching Lab, Environmental Lab, Duke Energy Smart Grid Lab, Geo-environmental Energy Lab and the HP Energy Innovation Lab.

CASEnergy Coalition is a national grassroots organization that supports the increased use of nuclear energy. Its mission is to advance the national dialogue about energy options, focusing on the value nuclear energy provides to America’s economy and the environment. Whitman co-founded the coalition in 2006.

# # #

Bree Hankins is division communicator in the University Communications department.

Friday, October 4, 2013

Former
Gov. Jim Hunt electrified a crowd of more than 200 -- regardless of their political persuasions -- as he discussed the significance of investing in public education to
North Carolina's economic future, on the UNC Charlotte campus on Thursday, Oct. 3. Hunt was the featured speaker for

at this year's Distinguished Speaker Series.

In his remarks,
Hunt pointed to the intrinsic connection between education and economic
prosperity. He laid out the state’s long tradition of supporting public
education, starting with the establishment of the nation’s first public
university system.

“Public
education is vital for economic growth in North Carolina,” he said. “It’s not a
small part of the state budget that is subject to negotiations in the state
legislature. It’s the heart of our strategy.”

Hunt, a
Democrat, is the longest-serving North Carolina governor. He held the position
from 1977 to 1985 and 1993 to 2001. He was joined by Chancellor Philip L.
Dubois at the event, which was held in the Anne R. Belk Theater in Robinson
Hall.

In 2006, Hunt
was named one of the 10 most influential people in American education. He
chairs the board of the James B. Hunt Jr. Institute for Educational Leadership
and Policy, which was established in 2001 as part of the University of North
Carolina system.

Hunt has been at
the forefront of educational reform in North Carolina and in the nation. One of
his main initiatives was the early childhood education program, Smart Start,
which became a model for the nation.

When he ran for his fourth term, Hunt
campaigned on a promise to raise teacher salaries across the state to the
national average. The cost was more than $1 billion, he said, but it was well
worth it.

Another seminal event was the passage of
a $3.1 billion bond issue to fund higher education in 2000, which captured 73
percent of the vote and was approved by voters in all 100 North Carolina
counties.

Throughout the
speech, Hunt tied better education to an increase in the number of high-paying
jobs and economic prosperity. He said other states are committing more funds to
education as part of their economic strategy.

“Today, things have changed in North
Carolina,” he said. “Spending on education is down and so is funding for our
public universities.”

Earlier in the day, Hunt attended a dedication ceremony for Hunt Hall, the first suite option in the new South Village residential area of the campus. Hunt Hall is being named in honor of the former governor.

Thursday, September 19, 2013

UNC Charlotte students, with significant assistance of alumni, have raised more than $49,000 of the $85,000 needed to construct a Habitat for Humanity house on campus in the week leading up to Homecoming on Oct. 12. The house will be partially constructed on campus at the corner of John Kirk Rd. and University City Blvd. The build is unique for two reasons -- the first-ever build on campus and the 49ers' first-ever football Homecoming. Find out more online.

Friday, August 30, 2013

In my
former life as the Charlotte correspondent for The Associated Press, I had the
opportunity to meet people from a wide variety of disciplines. Some were
quarterbacks or federal judges. Others were banking executives or artists.

Along
the way, I even interviewed one or two television evangelists.

During my
career in the Fourth Estate, I had the pleasure to cover the comings and goings
of former U.S. Rep. Robin Hayes and members of his congressional staff, which
included a graduate of UNC Charlotte, Richard Hudson.

U.S. Rep. Richard Hudson and Chancellor Dubois

With
the 8th District always up for grabs in election years, I spent a
considerable amount of time with Richard at campaign events in downtown
Charlotte or outside former textile mills in smaller towns such as Kannapolis.

No
matter how things were going for either of us, we always enjoyed ourselves,
swapping war stories from the campaign and giving each other grief if one of
our favorite sports teams was on the skids.

I knew
Richard was from Charlotte and that he had graduated from UNC Charlotte. I did
not know he was the Student Government Association president – most likely
because he never boasted about his personal accomplishments. He was totally dedicated to his boss and a
consummate professional in his duties as the district director for
Hayes from 2000 to 2005.

Flash forward and now Richard is the
new representative in Congress from the 8th District. After winning
64 percent of the vote against Scott Keadle in the Republican primary, he went
on the defeat Democratic incumbent Larry Kissell in November.

In an always-competitive district, he
captured 54 percent of the vote to Kissell's 46 percent and took office in
January 2013

So it was a real treat when I learned a
couple of weeks ago that Richard was coming to campus to meet with Chancellor
Philip L. Dubois and vice chancellor Bob Wilhelm to learn more about the University’s role in advanced
manufacturing.

U.S.
Rep. Richard Hudson ’96 visited his alma mater, UNC Charlotte, on Tuesday, Aug.
27, 2013, as part of his August recess from Congress. Hudson wanted to
visit the campus to learn more about the University’s role in advanced
manufacturing.

Hudson
met with Chancellor Philip L. Dubois, Bob
Wilhelm, Vice Chancellor for Research and Economic Development,and other University officials. After a stop at
Jerry Richardson Stadium, he stopped in at the Precision Metrology Lab and
other high-tech industrial labs in Duke Centennial Hall.

Hudson meets with Prof. Scott Smith and Dubois

Hudson said he viewed the visit
as a chance to see firsthand how UNC Charlotte is becoming the critical training
ground for high-skilled manufacturing jobs. One of his stops was the Center
for Precision Metrology, which is internationally known for its expertise in
manufacturing processes and quality assurance for mechanical parts.

For his part, Dubois said it is essential for UNC Charlotte
to have access to federal funding for research such as the work being done in
the center, where equipment is expensive. “That’s why it is important for
members of Congress to understand why this work is so critical,” he said.

Mechanical Engineering Professor Scott Smith showed Hudson
some of the discoveries made at the center, ranging from military aircraft
construction to consumer electronics such as the iPod.

“North Carolina is on the cutting
edge of advanced manufacturing jobs,” Hudson said, “and we need to make sure we
increase the number of job opportunities in our community and ensure our
students have the skills they need when they enter the workforce.”

Hudson, a
Republican, was elected in November 2012 to represent North Carolina’s 8th
Congressional District. He earned his
Bachelor of Arts degree in History and Political Science from UNC Charlotte
while serving as Student Body President. Hudson
serves on the House Agriculture Committee, the Education and Workforce
Committee and the Homeland Security Committee.He is the current Chairman of the Homeland Security Committee's Subcommittee
on Transportation Security.

###

Paul Nowell is media relations manager in the Office of Public Relations.

Wednesday, August 28, 2013

Last Saturday, UNC Charlotte competed alongside UNC Chapel Hill, Duke,
NC State, Wake Forest, UNC Wilmington, East Carolina University, Appalachian State, the University of South Carolina and the University of
Tennessee in “Grill University,” sponsored by The Southern Ideal Home Show.

49ers faithful at the Grill University event on Aug. 24.

From August 23-25, at the Charlotte Merchandise Mart, schools went head to head in a grilling and tailgate
showdown to determine the best of the best.

Over 100 proud 49er fans showed up in their green and
gold to cheer the UNC Charlotte team. Even Norm and “The Normbulance” lent
support by coming out and whipping up the crowd. UNC Charlotte did a full
sweep, winning all categories: Taste, Team spirit, Flair, Creativity and
Originality, and Best of Show.

Way to go Niners! Bring that grill technique to tailgating at 49ers football this fall.

# # #

Jenny Matz is assistant director of community affairs at UNC Charlotte.

Tuesday, August 27, 2013

Summer has come and
gone and once again, and we are kicking-off have kicked-off another fall
semester. I always look forward to this time of the year – the energy and
excitement it brings to our campus and of course, the chance to embark on a fresh
beginning. With our opening Convocation ceremony we, as a University, took a moment to celebrate our
achievements and reflect on the lessons of the past and our aspirations for the
future. These sentiments also ring true for the College of Health and Human
Services. With a fresh
beginning, we can also celebrate our accomplishments and the many new
opportunities taking shape that will most certainly take our College to the
next level of success.

This year, we have several
new professors joining our exceptional faculty, lots of new talent among our graduate
students, administrative and growing research staff, and of course, many new first
year students assuming their role as members of the class of 2017. The College
as a whole is accomplishing extraordinary things that also mark fresh
beginnings. This summer the Doctor of Nursing Practice degree was approved,
with a full class entering the School of Nursing now. The Department of Public Health Sciences just
received notice that our PhD in Behavioral Science was approved and they will
start accepting applications in January of 2014.

We are launching many new and innovative
research and service relationships with the health care industry, and, we are
watching with great interest as the next phases of the Affordable Care Act
(ACA) unfold -- hopeful for the potential of fresh beginnings for many
uninsured families in our Charlotte community, across the state and nationally.
Recently, I have been thinking a lot about the ACA because it has such a direct
connection to our work at the College in terms of community engagement,
research and how we must educate and orient the next generation of health care
and social service providers.

This is truly an amazing opportunity for us and those
we seek to serve through our work. First and foremost, we hold the belief that everyone has the right to health, which
includes full access to affordable and
high quality health care. Under the ACA, currently uninsured families will have
expanded opportunities to receive regular primary and preventive care—reducing
emergency room visits for health issues that could have been avoided in the
first place, and at substantially reduced cost to individuals and the health
care system—costs that are both emotional and financial. We will play a huge role in this
groundbreaking preventative effort by producing the most highly trained
community-based work force we can while continuing to expand the competencies of
our graduates in the acute-care arena, where hopefully, fewer newly insured
will end up.

Gratefully, we are ahead of the curve as we already
have our students across all programs experience the delivery of care and
services in community settings, working in interdisciplinary teams to strategize
more comprehensive and integrated solutions for patients and clients. Newly insured folks will also need easily
accessed and understandable health information so that they can be fully
engaged partners in staying or becoming healthy. Our nurses, social workers, exercise
scientists and public health students will have to communicate effectively and
with high cultural competence to help families realize optimal health. What
role will we play on the research front? Our goal is to grow connections and
partnerships across the new landscape of health care delivery- from grass-roots
health and social service agencies, to municipal services, to non-profit health
care, to industry- working in tandem to design and assess best and evidence
based practices and, to provide analytical expertise for large data bases that
will drive decision making to continuously improve patient and client care
outcomes.

The ACA is a bold, fresh beginning to creating a health
care system that is focused on meeting the basic healthcare needs of ALL
Americans, and we will learn much about its impact over the coming months and
years. Whatever its major successes or
minor failures, I am proud to know that the College of Health and Human
Services is a needed and engaged partner in an initiative that will lift up and
strengthen families and our communities for years to come.

Wednesday, August 21, 2013

While pondering this year’s Convocation presentation, one inevitably is
forced to contemplate the emphasis placed on encouraging an engaged, committed
and collaborative environment at UNC Charlotte with Chancellor Phil Dubois' theme of restoring the
“Uni” in University resonating throughout speech.

Thanks to Bonnie Cone – the University founder, this is not a new
concept at UNC Charlotte. This
institution has a rich history of leveraging the joint efforts of many individuals
to form a single, unified institution charged with providing an affordable,
high-quality education. Miss Bonnie’s
tireless efforts and ability to motivate others to join her mission has always provided
a standard for which is a great point of pride for this University; a standard
that is also engrained in the 49er spirit the school’s mascot personifies.

That sense of collaboration and resilience remains relevant to
this day and is paramount to the success of the University as it continues to
grow in both size and stature within the region.

UNC Charlotte is integral to the fabric of the Charlotte region
and as the city attempts to stake its claim as a leader, inevitably, UNC
Charlotte must follow suit.

The demand for higher education in this region has never been
higher and UNC Charlotte has positioned itself to meet that need.

While industry partnerships like EPIC (Energy Production and
Infrastructure Center) and PORTAL (Partnership, Outreach, and Research to
Accelerate Learning) are vital to the University’s growth, and football allows
for new opportunities, its fundamental element is the mental and physical
capital of its faculty and staff.

Chancellor Dubois’ message was not novel but necessary. Those of us invested in UNC Charlotte must
continue to tap that unified sense of purpose to maintain that the University continues
to be the vibrant, kinetic and essential resource it already is.

# # #

Jared Moon is communications coordinator
in the Office of Public Relations.

Career Center

Center for Teaching & Learning

Niner International

The Gold Mine

About Me

Followers

Welcome! This is a public blog

Representatives of a North Carolina state agency communicate via this Web site. Consequently no person communicating via this site (whether a state employee or the general public) should have an expectation that any communication on this site is private. All communication on this site may be subject to disclosure under the North Carolina Public Records Act.